I Negative Adverb Bre Nɒt Nɑːt Not/Didn’t It’s

• she did not/didn’t see him.
• it’s not/it isn’t raining.
• i can't see from here.
• he must not go.

not

1. used to form the negative of the verbs be, do and have and modal verbs like can or must and often reduced to n’t
• She did not/didn’t see him.
• It’s not/It isn’t raining.
• I can't see from here.
• He must not go.
• Don't you eat meat?
• It's cold, isn't it?
2. used to give the following word or phrase a negative meaning, or to reply in the negative
• He warned me not to be late.
• I was sorry not to have seen them.
• Not everybody agrees.
• ‘Who's next?’ ‘Not me.’
• ‘What did you do at school?’ ‘Not a lot.’
• It's not easy being a parent (= it's difficult).
3. used after hope, expect, believe, etc. to give a negative reply
• ‘Will she be there?’ ‘I hope not.’
• ‘Is it ready?’ ‘I'm afraid not.’
• ‘Does he know?’ ‘I believe not.’
4. used to show a negative possibility
• I don't know if he's telling the truth or not.
5. used to say that you do not want something or will not allow something
• ‘Some more?’ ‘Not for me, thanks.’
• ‘Can I throw this out?’ ‘Certainly not.’
6. used for emphasis to mean ‘no thing or person’
• He didn't speak to me—not one word.
7. used to politely accept thanks or to agree to something
• ‘Thanks a lot.’ ‘Not at all.’
• ‘Will it bother you if I smoke?’ ‘Not at all.’
8. used to emphasize that something else is also true
• She not only wrote the text but also selected the illustrations.
9. used to state that you are not suggesting something
• She hasn't written—not that she said she would.

Word Origin

• Middle English: contraction of the adverb nought.